Letter: Open borders root cause of housing and food shortages
The Greens never fail to amuse me.
Even more so when one of their members writes to the Shropshire Star, stating the following regarding Owen Paterson: "He fails to grasp that an understanding of ecology is fundamental to the sustainability of farming and rural livelihoods, and the key element of this sustainability are the farming families who manage these complex ecologies across the world".
What a mouthful of gobbledygook. Why not explain it simply, so that everyone can understand?
I am sure Owen Paterson does have an understanding of plants and animals in relation to the environment, but unfortunately, like most politicians here and in Europe, they are lobbied by corporations with interests in this subject, eg the agro/chemicals industry.
Hence the popularity of GM and some pesticides that can have a detrimental effect on bees, and most of us are aware of the importance of these to pollinate plants to yield fruit and vegetables.
Regarding sustainability of farming and rural livelihoods here and around the world, the Ecologist published a paper in the early 1970s called Blue Print for Survival and for the UK to be sustainable, the population must not exceed 53 million people. At today's 64 million, there is no way we can become self-sufficient in food.
The Greens and the Conservatives need to look at the root causes of demand for housing in this country and what has caused the demand.
The facts are that uncontrolled immigration and open borders have increased demand. If we build millions of extra homes there will be less land to grow food on and we will become less sustainable.
I have heard of a charity, Self Help Africa which helps families in rural Africa escape, hunger and poverty by low cost sustainable solutions and provide practical help where it is needed. Seems sensible for people to help themselves, rather than relying on others to do it for them.
Mark Norwood, Whittington
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